Skinner was present when Sergeant Farell put William Cage into J-Squad, giving him a threatening glare. He later mocked him during the flight to Normandy. Later on the beach, he and the rest of J-Squad are seen killed by a single Mimic.

In one of the loops, Cage manages to escape from a training exercise and he with other squadmates are punished by Sergeant Farell to do push ups. For unspecified amount of times he confronts Cage for running away and challenging him to a fight. He's defeated by Cage, one time by having his eyes closed and arms behind him. Cage decides to recruit the misfit J-Squad to help them get to Paris. Cage's now-intimate knowledge of J-Squad and Vrataski's credibility convinces J-Squad to accompany them. They steal an aircraft and fly to Paris.

Once in the vicinity of the Louvre, the Mimics attack their aircraft. They must avoid killing the Alpha Mimic guarding the Omega, because that will cause the Omega to reset time, so all the team members are told to "take one for the team" - that is, to accept death - and not try to kill any Alpha Mimic in case they find themselves with one face-to-face. In the ensuing firefight half of J-Squad are killed. Cage, Vrataski, and three remaining J-Squad members (Skinner, Griff and Ford) decide to use the remaining engine power to slide the aircraft into the Louvre. Once inside, they plan to use grenades to destroy the Omega. Skinner and Griff sacrifice themselves by detonating Skinners claymore and slowing down oncoming Mimics.